Though there were many presidential pets before him, Laddie Boy was the
first to receive regular coverage from newspaper reporters. "While no
one remembers him today, Laddie Boy's contemporary fame puts
Roosevelt's Fala, LBJ's beagles and Barney Bush in the shade," says Tom
Crouch, a Smithsonian Institution historian. "That dog got a huge
amount of attention in the press. There have been famous dogs since,
but never anything like this."

During their time in the
White House, from 1921 to 1923, the Hardings included their dog in
almost every aspect of their daily lives. When Harding golfed with
friends, Laddie Boy tagged along. During cabinet meetings, the dog sat
in (perched on his own chair). At fundraising events, the first lady
frequently had Laddie Boy make appearances. The dog was such a
prominent White House personality that the Washington Star and the New York Times seemed to run stories about the terrier almost daily in the months after Harding took office. (full article)

Laddie Boy greets President Harding upon his arrival home from a trip.

Laddie Boy with his birthday cake made of dog biscuits.

Laddie Boy with White House kennel master Wilson Jackson.

Laddie Boy presides over the annual Easter Egg Roll in 1923.

Laddie Boy gazing through the White House window. The next day President Harding died in San Francisco.

Life-size sculpture of Laddie Boy at the
Smithsonian by sculptress Bashka
Paeff, made from more than 19,000 pennies donated by
newsboys.

All photos courtesy of the Library of Congress. See more at the Smithsonian.

Welcome

Here you'll find breaking Obama family dog news. Puppy watch. Political analysis of the First Dog. Breed speculation. Press coverage. Humor. Presidential dog art. Photography. And a look at the history of dogs in the White House.